WORTH NOTING ON TV

Against the Grain (NBC, 8-9 p.m.): Ad-agency observers and others in the TV game have been saying nice things about the family-drama series premiering here - things like ``warm,'' ``intelligent,'' ``promising story lines.'' They consider it one of the new season's better efforts, but an ill-fated one in terms of ratings prospects, with some analysts even suggesting it's the network's sacrificial lamb to wholesome, high-quality programming.

The plot focuses on ``a real [that is, convincing] family in a real town,'' as one of the show's admirers puts it. A former high school football star takes on a job as coach of a high school football team in a Texas town whose residents rank football somewhere near religion. The new coach and his family come under various social pressures of the kind that network series depend on and of which a fine cast is expected to take full advantage.

Bill Moyers' Journal (PBS, 9-10 p.m.): Janet Reno, attorney general of the United States, is the guest for this edition of the noted discussion series, which is returning after an eight-month hiatus. Bill Moyers sounds like just the right person to interview this thoughtful and independent-minded member of the Clinton Cabinet, and their talk will doubtless be both civilized and pointed.

A Day in the Life of Country Music (CBS, 9-11 p.m.): If you like country music and its stars well enough to watch Lyle Lovett get a haircut, Alan Jackson ride his motorcycle, Waylon Jennings sing to his grandson, and Kenny Rogers meet President Clinton and photograph Hillary Rodham Clinton, then this documentary is for you. Some 20 directors and crews followed 40 country-music stars on 81 locations to produce a composite look at a day in the life of the stars and of those who create and produce the music.